North Carolina Legislators Amend Liquor Laws For Democratic National Convention

Legislators in the Tar Heel State clearly want to make sure the booze flows like water during the Democratic Convention in Charlotte:

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Adding a twist to blue laws in an increasingly red state, North Carolina’s Republican-led legislature is toasting a measure intended to keep the booze flowing at the Democratic National Convention.

President Barack Obama and other Democratic Party headliners are set to be in Charlotte for the nominating soirée held every four years, which kicks off with a Labor Day party at a stock car track. The state’s government-run liquor stores are closed Sundays and for the Monday holiday, presenting a potential problem for bars, restaurants and hotels needing to replenish depleted alcohol stocks.

The convention is expected to draw tens of thousands of people who will spend millions on food and libations.

To the rescue is a bipartisan group of lawmakers in Raleigh sponsoring a bill to keep the Alcoholic Beverage Control stores in Mecklenburg County, which includes Charlotte, open for Labor Day 2012. Co-sponsored by Republicans and Democrats from the Charlotte area, the measure flowed through the state House last week on a voice vote and is awaiting approval in the Senate.

Rep. Bill Brawley, a Mecklenburg Republican, said helping Charlotte be fully prepared to quench the thirsts of the arriving politicos and media horde is just good manners.

“The political party of the people attending is not material,” said Brawley, one of the bill’s primary sponsors. “Our state will treat them the way we would want our own people to be treated when they visit other states.”

There’s also, of course, the not insignificant fact of the tax revenue the state will garner from those alcohol sales. Not to mention the crisis that would ensue if delegates and members of the press actually had to sit through that four day ordeal sober.

FILED UNDER: 2012 Election, US Politics, , , , , ,
Doug Mataconis
About Doug Mataconis
Doug Mataconis held a B.A. in Political Science from Rutgers University and J.D. from George Mason University School of Law. He joined the staff of OTB in May 2010 and contributed a staggering 16,483 posts before his retirement in January 2020. He passed far too young in July 2021.

Comments

  1. JKB says:

    Just a double shot of liquor makes the kool-aid go down, kool-aid go down.

    But a bit of irony that the State-run industry is going to force workers to work on Labor Day to serve the Democratic Party.

  2. Anon says:

    For the record, the drink served in Jonestown was not Kool Aid, but was in fact Flavor Aid.

  3. Franklin says:

    Somewhat similarly, the Michigan Legislature apparently had to pass a special law to allow Michigan Stadium to sell alcohol for the 2013 NHL Winter Classic. At the very least, I’m glad that we can all agree on something – people need to drink!

  4. Peter Ramins says:

    Legislator #1: “Hey wait! This law on the books is preventing this totally reasonable action by consenting adults that will harm no one!”

    Legislator #2: “So what?”

    Legislator #1: “It effects *US*!”

    Legislator #2: *Gasp* “LIGHT THE BAT SIGNAL! SOUND THE CONCH! BRING ME THE RED PHONE!”

    Legislator #1: “Yeah! Repeal time!”

    *sound of record needle being scraped off the track*

    Legislator #2: “Hahahaha, no dummy. Man you are green. No, we’ll just set up a special immunity for ourselves.”

  5. C. S. P. Schofield says:

    Hell, no good ever came of a sober National Party Convention.